#1 The Lineup:
So of course, what we’re all here for, the music! This year’s lineup looks so rad, with four stages at Escape, it’s insane how much talent they can pack into just two nights! Some of the sets I’m dying to catch are Eric Prydz, i_o, and Said the Sky. Just to name a few. But I always love roaming around and exploring different stages and discovering new music that I may have never given a chance before!
#2 Getting Dressed Up:
For me, Dressing up is one of my absolute favorite parts of any event that I attend. Personally, my everyday style and wardrobe is pretty neutral. But at raves, I get a chance to really go all out expressing myself with fun styles and makeup! And Escape is the perfect excuse to get even more creative with looks from cute and sparkly to dark and spooky, there’s no limit to the amazing looks you can create! If you’re looking for some inspo, check out savormeditation' Halloween Outfits Collection that just dropped earlier this month!
#3 The Performers:
Something I’ve noticed over the years when it comes to Insomniac Events is their attention to detail when it comes to everything. And the performers are one of the many things you won’t want to take your eyes off of. Now mind you, as I mentioned, I’ve never attended Escape but I have spent many years dealing with infamous FOMO and looking at photos of performers of years passed for Escape and let me just say, they look SO crazy - in the best way. I honestly can’t wait to see all of the clowns, creatures, and absolute shock factor of it all in the flesh!
Photo Credit: Insomniac Events/Escape
#4 The Rides:
Now, from what I’ve seen in past photos and highlights, there seems to be a few ghoulishly fun rides featured at Escape, one of which I’m a total sucker for. And that’s the ferris wheel! It’s always a must ride for me at any event or carnival I attend and I’ve even seen that there has been a Carousel set up with the occasional ghoul or two riding alongside you too! How fun is that? Plus it makes for some amazing photo ops as well! Or even if you need a moment to rest your feet from all of the dancing we know we’ll all be doing!
#5 The People:
Last, but certainly not least, another one of my favorite parts of these events and one of the things I look forward to most is the people. Whether you’re more of a people watcher, or you play to the crowd, there’s never a dull moment when it comes to these events. And Escape is no exception. One of the reasons I fell in love with raves is the instant sense of community and belonging among strangers, to always make a friend or share an experience like no other, to feel accepted regardless of it all. THAT’S what keeps me coming back time and time again.
I’m seriously so excited for Escape Psycho Circus this year, and I can’t wait to finally see it all with my own eyes! The Halloween season holds such a dear place in my heart and I’m stoked to be able to celebrate it with Insomniac. If you still need to pick up tickets, hurry hurry! Escape tickets sell out quickly, so be sure to check out Insomniac’s Website for all of the deets! See all of you boo’s n’ ghouls soon!
]]>For me, one of my favorite parts about Escape is touring the Wonderland Asylum. It’s a 32,000 haunted house with production quality at Disneyland levels. This year’s haunt was the largest and most intricate yet, featuring over 150 performers, 25 individual sound systems, and 30 distinct rooms depicting scenes from eight years of Escape trailer storylines.
The fashion though is of course a favorite thing for me as well! Day one I dressed as a leopard and day two I was a devil. The weather kept pretty warm both nights, so it was easy to be dressed in your costume without having to cover it up to stay warm! Let’s check out some of my favorite looks from this year. There’s, of course, no wrong time to wear a costume to a rave, so take these looks as inspo for even your next event -- Halloween or not!
Rawr
Mesh Keyhole Halter Top: savormeditation, €19.95
Wild One Belted Utility Pants: savormeditation, €30.51
Fishnet Oversized T-Shirt: savormeditation, €15.95
Glitter Tiger Pasties: Neva Nude, €6.47
Sparkly Snakeskin Strappy One-Piece: savormeditation, €26.44
Wet Look High Neck Zipper Bodysuit: savormeditation, €38.95
Into the Shadows Zip Front Tube Top: savormeditation, €13.21
Into the Shadows Lace Up Shorts: savormeditation, €16.64
Night Walker Face Jewels: Neva Nude, €12.95
Animal Instincts Plunge Bodysuit: savormeditation, €44.95
Liquid Leather Bottoms: savormeditation, €32.95
Wet Look Thigh Highs: savormeditation, €18.95
Metallic Corset: savormeditation, €16.15
Gold Sequin Star Pasties: Neva Nude, €7.96
Liquid Leather Bottoms: savormeditation, €32.95
Chaps: savormeditation
The Empire Strikes Back
Holographic Sporty Cut Out Crop Top: savormeditation, €36.95
Micro Booty Shorts (Holographic & Black): savormeditation, €19.16
Fearless Fence Net Bodysuit: savormeditation, €15.95
Hologram High Waisted Booty Shorts: savormeditation, €19.96
Multi Strap Garter Utility Belt: savormeditation, €21.56
Liquid Leather Sporty Crop Top: savormeditation, €36.95
Vinyl Body Harness: savormeditation, €35.72
Holographic Mesh Cropped Tank: J Valentine, €19.95
Iridescent Daisy Jewel Pasties: Lunautics, €15.95
All Tied Up High Cut Bottoms: J Valentine, €34.95
Holographic Studded Heart Leg Garters: savormeditation, €18.36
Plur-oween
Delusion Bodysuit: Rolita Couture, €31.48
Glitter Robotic Pasties: Pastease, €7.96
Hazy Holographic Ring Choker: savormeditation, €7.96
Holographic Mesh Cropped Tank: J Valentine, €19.95
Hologram Scrunch Tie Sport Shorts: savormeditation, €26.95
Fence Net Thigh Highs: savormeditation, €6.95
Giant Butterfly Wings: savormeditation, €32.76
Bondage Harness: savormeditation, €17.89
Bejeweled Butterfly Pasties: Lunautics, €13.56
Liquid Leather Bottoms: savormeditation, €32.95
Wrapped in Lust Harness: savormeditation, €21.56
On the Brink Buckle Mini Crop Top: savormeditation, €23.95
Liquid Tripp Bottoms: savormeditation, €32.95
On Theme
Skeleton Pasties: Pastease, €9.99
Studded Garter Belt Harness: savormeditation, €29.95
Jet Black Bodysuit: savormeditation, €12.94
All photos taken by me, @festfashions.
]]>Here are 5 reasons why I'm looking forward to Escape Psycho Circus:
#1: THE LINEUP
Okay, this one is super obvious, but let’s take a minute to gush over it anyways. There’s a total of four stages at Escape, boasting an incredible amount of headliners over just two nights! I will for sure be at Ghoul’s Graveyard most of both nights - you can DEFINITELY catch me at Excision (I haven’t seen him in over a year and I couldn’t be more thrilled), GTA, Joyryde, Eric Prydz and Tchami x Malaa. I’m also looking to exploring the rest of the stages and catching some classic headliners like Kaskade, Zed’s Dead and Diplo.
#2: Dressing Up
I love dressing up for raves! Combine this love with my favorite holiday and, BAM, I’m one happy camper. It’s no secret that the savormeditation Team likes to wear matching outfits and we can’t wait to show you what we’re brewing up this year. Catch us on the savormeditation instagram stories to see our costumes and follow along with our adventures during the weekend!
If you’re looking for costume inspo, check out our blog post created with Escape Pyscho Circus Outfits in mind!
#3: The Asylum
Last year, Insomniac announced the return the Asylum - a 32,000 square foot Haunted House that takes the meaning of “Haunted House” to the next level. This horrifying exhibit is staged like a real-life Insane Asylum - complete with straight jackets. Get ready to be completely terrified as a nurse slaps a mask on your face and gives your “medication” and sends you on your way to meet the “Master.” This massive exhibit features 30 distinct environments with movie-stage quality, 120 interactive performers and 25 separate sound systems. You even get to keep the custom Escape hockey mask - so you can be reminded of your biggest nightmares again and again!
I’m definitely a chicken when it comes to Haunted Houses, but I’ve heard amazing things about this incredible performance, so I’m planning to suck it up.
#4: The Performers
The performers at Insomniac Events always go all out, but I’m especially looking forward to seeing the performers at Escape Pyscho Circus. I love thatthere are so many different spooky looks, including psycho clowns and blood-soaked brides. The photos I’ve seen of the incredible makeup and special effects to make these outfits believable is absolutely amazing. I’m looking forward to seeing it in person and hopefully getting to take some pictures!
Photo Courtesy of Insomniac Events/Escape
#5: The Weather
Last year, my husband and I moved to Socal from The Pacific Northwest. I still haven’t gotten used to this concept that’s it’s sunny and warm almost all year round here. In my opinion, we’re totally spoiled with the weather at Escape. While most Halloween raves require careful outfit planning with layers to keep warm, the weather at Escape is usually an average of 83 (high) and 54 (low). This year it looks like it’s supposed to be in the 70s which sounds perfect to me! I’m planning to bring a cute faux fur jacket to throw over my costume just in case it gets chilly late at night.
Bonus: Just Because It’s Halloween
As I said, Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. As I got older, it became less about actual Halloween night and more about Hallo-weekend. This weekend has always been a special weekend for me, but especially since I started raving. In 2014, my boyfriend and I went to our first rave together, Freaknight, in Seattle. We had a great time (despite my phone getting stolen and Day 2 of Freaknight getting canceled) and knew that raving would always be a special part of our relationship. My boyfriend made the concept of Hallo-weekend even more special by proposing the following year at Freaknight. Last year we moved from the Pacific Northwest, so this will be our first Halloween rave we’re attending together in Socal. I can’t wait to make new memories!
I'm a total cheeseball, but I love matching couples outfits! From left to right; 2014, 2015 & 2016
If you're still hoping to attend Escape Psycho Circus, move quickly! Tickets are selling out fast. For more event/ticketing info, head to Insomniac's website for full details.
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Friday night I took my roommate, who had never been to a rave before. Parking by the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino can be kind of hard if you’re trying to park close, but we found awesome free street parking a few blocks away easily.
Once inside I was totally blown away by the lake as you enter the festival. The lights and circus tents reflection was beautiful and creepy. Looking around, there was already so much to see and we were ready to explore. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I loved all the creepy themed performers walking around the event as well as the lengths to which attendees were dressed up too. Slaughterhouse had my favorite staged design with the creepy eyes looking out at you from the DJ booth the whole time. It was also fun to see a lot of DJs dress up in costumes too. I really felt like I was at a personal party vs a huge event.
At one point, I lost my phone dancing and believe it or not it found its way back to me. This is the kind of stuff I love about Insomniac Events. The people there are so amazing. This isn’t Coachella where someone is stealing a bunch of people’s stuff (though it does still happen). For the most part, I feel like people want to help other people out and are here to just have a good time.
While we got there pretty late Friday night because of both of us having to work before heading out, we were at Escape until close. DJ Snake was our final set and he totally killed it. We made up for lost time by staying a little in the venue as the crowds wandered out too. I think I finally made it to bed at 4:30am. Roomie’s first rave was a success.
Day two I took a different friend, and our goal was to get there as early as we could. Doors opened at 4pm and we made it by 5:30. Being there just as the sun was setting was pretty perfect. It definitely helped make for some awesome photos for my blog! I have so many awesome photos of headliners that I can’t wait to share. I’m so impressed by the creativity I always see, but especially at Halloween events!
The highlight though for me Saturday night was The Asylum. The Asylum is Insomniac’s haunted house at Escape. Initially, I wasn’t sure if I would want to do it. I’m a little bit of a chicken at times, but after talking to the people at the gate, and confirming no one can touch me, I was in. We signed a waiver and then got in line. The queue was a bit of a wait, but after going through, it was MORE than worth it.
You have to check your bags before going in, and then once inside the Wonderland Asylum, you get checked in. Turn in your papers and in your group of ten head to the first room with the ‘doctors’. Here you’re put into a straight jacket -- yes I’m serious and yes it was OK. They weren’t rough with you nor was it super tight once on. They try to scare you with the actors around but nothing was too much for me ever.
You continue your way through the ‘asylum’ and then you have to get your ‘meds’ from the nurse before another one puts a Hannibal mask on you. Now everyone looks the same and you need to keep tabs on your friends in your group of ten. Then pretty much you’re off. You and your group get to wander through the asylum. There are multiple stories and scenarios and one after another I was totally blown away by the production quality.
I shouldn’t be that shocked though because of the production quality of everything Insomniac does, but this was on another level. One of my favorite rooms, you walked through a hedge maze out into a foggy open area where you were greeted by a ticket booth. There the carnival owner gave you a ticket, and you turned to see a full carousel eerily looping around. I couldn’t believe the stuff I was seeing in there.
I wish I had done the asylum Friday night as well because it was epic and I would have loved to see it all over again. There’s always next year! Because honestly, I’m already ready go back.
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Escape: Psycho Circus takes place October 27 - 28, 2017 at the NOS Events Center in San Bernadino, CA. This is the same location that Beyond Wonderland was held this year, for those who went. The space has a really beautiful lake when you walk in, then the stages are all covered and there is no grass beyond this lake area. I didn’t mind Beyond being there this year as it felt small and intimate and had no hills or anything. I do remember parking a little walk away but nothing too bad since it was walking city blocks and not a dusty hill.
The event takes place the standard 4 PM - 2 AM, and the average temp this weekend in San Bernardino has highs of 81 and lows of 51, so you’ll want to make sure you prep for the temperature change if it does end up being that drastic.
They have lockers which are always such an easy solution to this problem. They’re only $35 for both days and splitting that among your group makes it dirt cheap. They all come with phone chargers now too, and are the perfect meeting spot at the end of the night should someone get lost. Buy one here.
As far as tickets go, the final tier of GA 2-day tickets is available at $219 + fees, but there’s still the first tier of GA single day tickets at $119 + fees. I love the option of having single day tickets because there’s always so much to do at Halloween I find it hard to commit to one event all weekend! You can buy your tickets here. For those ready to go all out on their rave weekend, there’s also VIP tickets.
VIP tickets are clutch because you get much more experience in your event. VIP is 21+ and has special entrances to the event. Personally I’m loving the bonuses they’re offering with VIP tickets for Escape because I’m a Halloween lover, so this would be the event I’d splurge on for VIP. I mean, a fortune teller and a trick-or-treat bar! UGH I JUST LOVE HALLOWEEN SO MUCH TAKE MY MONEY ALREADY. Buy your VIP experience here.
As far as stages go, Escape has four main stages: Slaughterhouse, Ghouls’ Graveyard, The Chopping Block and Cannibals’ Tea Party. As a reminder, all the stages are indoor. The lineup has a great mix of artists, and personally, I’m looking forward to Alan Walker and Tiesto among many others.
In true Insomniac style, there will also be art all over the grounds and spooky, scary Halloween themed performers. Escape also boasts The Asylum, a 32,000 square foot immersive theater. It has 30 distinct environments, 120 interactive performers, movie-quality set designs and special effects for a funhouse only Insomniac could pull off. It sounds pretty freaky. You can read more on it here… if you dare…
Since you’ll probably want to wear a Halloween look to the event, make sure to check out the below guidelines for costumes.
So have fun with it! Start making your Halloween kandi and get ready to trade at Escape: Psycho Circus!
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